Choosing Reflection in Times of Change
Time moves slowly in the desert. Since relocating here in September, I wake with the light, like it or not. My closest local friend lives an hour and a half away. My husband and I have each other—thrilling in a second marriage in which we’ve never before lived alone without kids. Still, it’d been 30-plus […]
The Complex Relationship Between Dissociation and Narcissism
Narcissism and dissociation are psychological phenomena that, while distinct, are deeply interconnected. Both can emerge as adaptive responses to relational trauma or early developmental experiences. This interplay sheds light both on the challenges narcissistic individuals face in maintaining their sense of self, and the impact on their behaviors can have on others. Understanding these dynamics […]
Four Tips for a Successful Digital Detox
Life in the digital world can be rewarding. It’s convenient to order groceries for pickup, share photographs or music, and keep in touch with family and friends, no matter the distance. However, it can also be draining. The feeling of being constantly “on” and productive has driven people to reconsider their balance in the saturated […]
Building a Rejection Resume | Psychology Today
A few months ago, I ran a workshop at a youth Mental health conference with a good friend of mine who specializes in talking about embracing failure. She openly shared many of her own failures with the audience and offered advice on supporting teenagers experiencing failure or rejection. During the Q&A afterward, one audience member […]
Can Social Activity Be a Form of Medicine?
As a hospital-based physician, I almost always treat people with serious chronic health conditions. As a consequence of these conditions, they lose not just energy but also connection to much of what makes them feel alive. Such was the case with Mr. T., a 67-year-old man I recently cared for at Alta Bates Summit Medical […]
Lucy and the Primate Perspective
The Primate Perspective helps us recognize that we are deeply connected to the natural history of this planet as well as countless forms of life around us, on us, and inside of us right now. Source: Guy P. Harrison Many astronauts and cosmonauts have described the Cosmic Perspective as a life-changing upgrade for the modern […]
Are Humans Meant to Share Beds?
Recent research on animal sleep behavior has revealed that sleep is influenced by the animals around them. Olive baboons, for instance, sleep less as group sizes increase, while mice can synchronize their rapid eye movement cycles. In western society, many people expect to sleep alone, if not with a romantic partner. But as with other […]
The Ripple Effect: How Leadership Begins Within
Source: Tookapic/Pexels Leadership isn’t just about the decisions we make in boardrooms or during high-stakes moments. It’s about influence—the ripples we create in our everyday interactions. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all leaders in our own spheres, shaping the experiences of those around us. But what if we’re not intentional about those ripples? […]
Teasing, Taunting, and Revenge: Lessons in Injured Pride
When The Ohio State University, a mega land-grant state school and a perennial football powerhouse, takes the field against a charter member of the Big Ten, the elite Northwestern University, the stadium buzzes with good-natured score-settling and rivalry. From their side of the field, Buckeyes’ loud cheers press the point that the Wildcats haven’t any […]
There Are No Bad Kids
Thirty years ago, right after completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I spent a summer teaching kindergarten at a Columbus, Ohio, school designed for children with behavioral disorders, many of whom were diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The student body was overwhelmingly BIPOC and had endured extensive trauma: separation from family, various forms of […]